This message is being sent to seniors at RAHS and FAHS and their families. It is intended to clarify an update in our message from Thursday, and provide detail about planning for the class of 2020 graduation ceremony.
Graduation is an important milestone for students and their families. During this time when students are separated from their friends, their routines and their sense of normalcy, the thought of disrupting the capstone to their school experience must be especially upsetting.
As a district, we are looking at numerous options for celebrating graduation at RAHS, at FAHS and with our adult learners. We have not made a final decision on how and when we can hold graduation. The safety of our students is, of course, our most important responsibility. One significant variable is that we do not yet know if the governor will allow schools to resume in-person teaching on May 5. In any case, we will remain flexible so that if and when restrictions are lifted, we can adjust our plans accordingly.
One of the options we are exploring is delaying an in-person graduation ceremony to a time when as many seniors as possible will be able to attend. We will survey students soon to understand the impact of delaying to various dates in the summer or into the fall. Depending on the restrictions on public gatherings, we may be able to consider holding a ceremony or series of ceremonies in the RAHS stadium where some amount of physical distancing could be accomplished.
Another option we are exploring—which could be done in conjunction with delaying an in-person graduation ceremony—is a livestreamed event on the date and time originally planned for graduation. We would involve students in the planning and creation of such an event, which could include prerecorded photos, video and music submitted by students and staff. There are opportunities to have students participate in the broadcast of the livestream, using social media in ways that could be engaging and fun.
Obviously, nothing can fully take the place of an in-person graduation ceremony as a marker of the completion of high school. That is why we are looking at multiple solutions that will allow us to celebrate in person when it is safe to do so, and when it isn’t, to find other ways of sharing together our appreciation, our love and recognition of our students' accomplishments.
Please stay tuned for more information about graduation and other important spring events. We know this is very difficult for you all, and we are doing everything we can to support every student.
